Costa Rica 1-3 Zambia (Jul 31, 2023) Game Analysis

Debutants Zambia claimed their first ever victory on the Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 win over Costa Rica at Waikato Stadium on Monday, though each groups had been already out of competition for the knockout stage.

Zambia, whose first two video games resulted in 5-0 hammerings, completed third in Group C, with Japan high after their 4-0 thrashing of Spain. Costa Rica completed backside and didn’t decide up some extent of their three matches.

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Defender Lushomo Mweemba scored the quickest purpose of the event thus far, with a spectacular volleyed effort at two minutes and 11 seconds, and captain Barbra Banda doubled the lead from the penalty spot simply after the half-hour mark.

Zambia had been awarded the spot kick after Banda went to floor contained in the six yard field and the ahead stepped as much as calmly slot the ball into the underside left nook, scoring the 1,000th purpose in Women’s World Cup historical past.

Playing at their second World Cup, Costa Rica had been nonetheless trying to find their first win within the competitors and reduce the deficit early within the second half, when Melissa Herrera bundled the ball dwelling after goalkeeper Catherine Musonda was unable to clear it.

Costa Rica appealed for a penalty when midfielder Priscila Chinchilla collided with Musonda within the field, however had been denied after a prolonged VAR verify when replays confirmed ahead Sheika Scott was offside within the build-up.

Herrera had the ball within the internet once more with round 20 minutes remaining however was dominated offside and Valeria Del Campo fired vast earlier than, in opposition to the run of play, Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji scored from Banda’s cross in stoppage time to seal a historic win.